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The MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV) is located in Belleville, Illinois, 18 miles east of downtown St. Louis. It is a public airport that opened in 1997 and is conjoined with the Scott Air Force Base. The airport covers 7,003 acres and has two runways, with passenger service provided by Allegiant Air, which offers direct flights to various destinations.
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MidAmerica St. Louis Airport
The airport has been recognised for its affordability, being named "Airport of the Year" in 2018 by the Illinois Department of Transportation for airports with more than 10,000 annual passengers. Additionally, a 2021 Bureau of Transportation study ranked it among the five least expensive airports in the nation. MidAmerica St. Louis Airport has also received federal grants to expand its terminal, with plans to enhance security, add jet bridges, and improve accessibility for people with disabilities.
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Allegiant Air
MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (IATA: BLV, ICAO: KBLV, FAA LID: BLV), also known as Belleville–St. Louis Airport, is the airport located in Belleville, Illinois. It is a public-use airport next to Scott Air Force Base, 18 miles east of downtown St. Louis. The airport is served by Allegiant Air, which offers low-cost flights to various destinations across the United States.
MidAmerica St. Louis Airport has undergone expansion projects to enhance its facilities. The terminal expansion is planned in four phases, with the final phase expected to be completed by the end of 2023. The expansion will add new features, including an upgraded security checkpoint, additional jet bridges, improved accessibility for people with disabilities, and expanded lounge areas. The airport's construction began in 1995, and it will continue to pay off its construction debt until 2045.
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Location
Belleville, Illinois is served by the MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, also known as Belleville–St. Louis Airport. The airport is located 18 miles east of downtown St. Louis and 14 miles east of Belleville in St. Clair County, Illinois. The airport is situated next to Scott Air Force Base, with which it is a joint-use facility. The address of the airport is 9656 Air Terminal Drive Suite 250, Mascoutah, IL 62258.
MidAmerica St. Louis Airport is a public-use airport that opened in 1997. It is the secondary domestic passenger airport for the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area, serving as a relief airport to the larger St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The airport covers 7,003 acres and has two runways. It is the fifth-busiest of the 12 commercial airports in Illinois.
The airport has been criticised as a pork barrel project, with some arguing that it was unnecessary due to the lack of congestion at Lambert Airport. However, MidAmerica Airport has seen an increase in passenger traffic since Allegiant Air resumed service in 2012, offering flights to 12 destinations. In 2018, the airport served 302,000 total passengers and was named "Airport of the Year" for airports with more than 10,000 annual passengers by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
The airport has undergone several expansion projects, including a four-phase terminal expansion that began in 2020 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. The expansion will add 41,000 square feet to the terminal, improving amenities and accessibility for passengers. In September 2022, construction began on an extension to Taxiway Lima and a new Taxiway Bridge over Crooked Creek to connect the airport to a new aviation business park.
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History
The airport in Belleville, Illinois, is MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV). It is located 14 nautical miles (26 km; 16 mi) east of Belleville in St. Clair County, Illinois. It is a public-use airport that opened in 1997 and is currently served by one scheduled commercial airline, Allegiant Air.
MidAmerica St. Louis Airport is a joint-use airport, situated next to Scott Air Force Base. The base is a United States Air Force base, originally called Scott Field, and it is listed as the Scott Field Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.
Scott Air Force Base was established in April 1917, after the United States entered World War I. It was one of 32 Air Service training camps set up during this period. The base's primary mission during World War II was to train skilled radio operator/maintainers, with the slogan "the best damned radio operators in the world!". By the end of the war, the Radio School had expanded to fill about 46 large school buildings on the base, and it had graduated 77,370 radio operator/mechanics.
In 1948, the Radio School was reorganised, with some courses being relocated to other bases. The U.S. Air Force became a separate service in September 1947, and in January 1948, Scott Field was redesignated as Scott Air Force Base. The base continued to be used for technical training, with the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) moving there in 1957.
MidAmerica St. Louis Airport was created to alleviate crowding at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. However, it has been criticised as a pork barrel project, with some considering it unnecessary due to the reduced congestion at Lambert Airport since 2006. MidAmerica Airport has been featured on the "Fleecing of America" segment on NBC Nightly News and was called a "Gateway to Nowhere" by Tom Brokaw.
Despite the criticism, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport has seen increasing passenger numbers. In 2018, it was named "Airport of the Year" for airports with more than 10,000 passengers annually by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The airport has also received federal grants to expand its terminal, with the project expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
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Terminal expansion
The MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (IATA: BLV), also known as the Belleville-St. Louis Airport, is located 14 nautical miles east of Belleville in St. Clair County, Illinois. The airport has undergone a significant terminal expansion to meet the growing demand for passenger services.
The terminal expansion program was designed to enhance the customer experience and provide additional amenities for travellers. The project added 41,000 square feet to the existing terminal, nearly doubling its size. The expansion included a new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint, two additional jet bridges, a service animal relief area, family restrooms, a nursing room, and an expanded departure lounge with added room for concessions. The expansion also improved accessibility for travellers with disabilities.
The project cost approximately $34 million, with $31 million coming from state and federal funding. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provided around 75% of the funding, with 20% from the state and 5% from local sources. The expansion was completed in multiple phases to minimise disruption to travellers and airline operations.
The terminal expansion program also included improvements to the original terminal, such as electrical work and interior updates. Additionally, there have been enhancements to the baggage handling system, the addition of a gift shop, a community conference room, and improvements to the passenger drop-off area outside the terminal.
The MidAmerica St. Louis Airport has experienced a significant increase in passenger traffic, with consistent growth since 2015. The expansion will enable the airport to accommodate more flights and provide a better experience for travellers passing through the Metro St. Louis region.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport in Belleville, Illinois, is called MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV).
Allegiant Air offers cheap direct flights to Charleston, SC, famous for its southern charm and hospitality. Allegiant also offers affordable flights to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, and San Juan Airport.
MidAmerica St. Louis Airport provides convenient and cost-effective parking options, with the lot located directly in front of the passenger terminal. The terminal also offers a full-service restaurant and bar, and free Wi-Fi. The airport is currently undergoing expansion to add more facilities, including an upgraded security checkpoint, additional jet bridges, and improved accessibility.
